Superconducting articles, and methods for forming and using same

Abstract

A superconducting tape is disclosed, including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the substrate including a plurality of indicia provided on the first surface spaced apart along a length of the substrate; and a superconductor layer overlying the second surface. Also disclosed are components incorporating superconducting tapes, methods for manufacturing same, and methods for using same.

1. A superconducting tape, comprising:
 a substrate having an aspect ratio of not less than 10 3 ; and 
 a superconductor layer overlying the substrate; wherein 
 a plurality of indicia spaced apart along a length of the superconducting tape at a constant pitch. 
 
   
   
     2. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the superconducting tape has opposite exterior major surfaces, the plurality of indicia being provided along at least one of the opposite exterior major surfaces. 
   
   
     3. The superconducting tape of  claim 2 , further comprising a stabilizer layer overlying at least one of the substrate and the superconductor layer, the stabilizer layer defining at least one of the opposite major exterior surfaces of the superconducting tape and the plurality of indicia being provided along the stabilizer layer. 
   
   
     4. The superconducting tape of  claim 3 , wherein the stabilizer layer comprises at least one of Cu and Al. 
   
   
     5. The superconducting tape of  claim 4 , wherein the stabilizer layer consists essentially of Cu. 
   
   
     6. The superconducting tape of  claim 3 , wherein the stabilizer defines both opposite major surfaces of the superconducting tape. 
   
   
     7. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has an aspect ratio of not less than 10 4 . 
   
   
     8. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the pitch is within a range of about 0.5 m to 100 m. 
   
   
     9. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are spaced apart along the substrate at a constant interval along substantially the entire length of the superconducting tape. 
   
   
     10. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are made by a material subtractive process such that the indicia comprise recesses. 
   
   
     11. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein each indicia comprises an indicia set, each indicia set including position identifier. 
   
   
     12. The superconducting tape of  claim 11 , wherein the position identifier comprises a bar code, a 2-dimensional pattern, or an alphanumeric code. 
   
   
     13. The superconducting tape of  claim 11 , wherein each position identifier along the substrate is unique. 
   
   
     14. The superconducting tape of  claim 11 , wherein each indicia set further includes a fiducial for positioning the article. 
   
   
     15. The superconducting tape of  claim 14 , wherein the fiducial is adapted for detection by an optical imaging system. 
   
   
     16. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the superconductor layer comprises a high temperature superconductor material, having a critical temperature T c  not less than about 77 K. 
   
   
     17. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , wherein the superconductor material comprises REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−x , wherein RE is a rare earth element. 
   
   
     18. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer layer provided between the superconductor layer and the substrate. 
   
   
     19. The superconductor tape of  claim 18 , wherein the buffer layer includes at least one buffer film, the buffer film comprising a biaxially textured material having generally aligned crystals both in-plane and out-of-plane of the film. 
   
   
     20. The superconducting tape of  claim 1 , further comprising a noble metal layer overlying the superconductor layer. 
   
   
     21. A superconducting tape, comprising:
 a substrate having an aspect ratio of not less than 10 3 ; and 
 a superconductor layer overlying the substrate; wherein 
 a plurality of indicia spaced apart along a length of the superconducting tape, each indicia comprising an indicia set having an unique position identifier.